New Ghana Football Association president Kurt Okraku asked for the love back and on the resumption of the first day of the Ghana Premier League new season, there was a considerable bit of that back.
It wasn’t a tale of full stadiums but there was significant social media interest to build on and above all plenty drama to drive a league badly in need of public image resurrection.
Key highlights
That has to be the sheer number of goals on the opening weekend. There were 25 in the nine matches, an average of 2.7 every game which is a considerably high return.
The goals and where they were scored also added weight to some of the pre season predictions around who the favourites for the league are. AshantiGold scored three unanswered goals to beat Great Olympics whose quality on the pitch was nothing like the buzz they have created on social media. It was poignant too that Shafui Mumuni was among the goal scorers for the Miners after his declaration that he wants that goal king crown.
Mumuni’s title ambitions and goal king aims would both be tested in Aduana where Yahaya Mohammed hit a match day one hat trick while helping Aduana Stars announce their title credentials in emphatic style with a 4-0 win over Inter Allies.
Dawu witnessed the most goals, five in all as Dreams FC beat King Faisal 4-1. Even this early, looks like it would be a long season for Alhaji Grunsah’s men.
Old Boys won’t have it their way
Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak have been major fixtures in the Ghana Premier League traditionally but both didn’t particularly set it alight on day one. When Kotoko’s Justice Blay opened the scoring after only two minutes against Eleven Wonders, the hope would have been that Maxwell Konadu’s side would run riot. They didn’t. Maybe it is a sign of a typical Konadu side, one capable of grinding out results. Not that they would complain in Kumasi and beyond if it leads to another league title.
Hearts have bigger problems and the fact that the complaints of their pained fans has dominated the reviews lays credence to that. That 0-1 loss puts Kim Grant under a lot of pressure. He would be hoping for an early response.
Social Media can fill TV void
Television has traditionally been the growth vehicle for major leagues around the world and the medium still has a major role to play in the attempt to bring back the love. Live matches highlights, special programs, engaging content about players is still a major area TV can lead but social media is proving it can be a hugely complimentary force or even leader in that regard too.
The buzz around updates, team photos, and general conversations led by journalists, influencers, and the club themselves provides a glimpse of what can be achieved going forward. The medium has come to matter to every club, the league itself and media houses and the opening day underlined that. Long may it continue.
By Michael Oti-Adjei|3news.com|Ghana